Wire-fence tightener



(No Mode l.)

D. LEWIS.

WIRE FENCE TIGHTENER- No. 269,801. Patented Dec. 26 1882 WITNESSES IN YEN 'l( )1:

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I zen of the United States, residingin Jennings Thurman STATES PATENT @rrrce.

DANIEL LEWIS, OF JENNINGS COUNTY, INDIANA.

WIRE-FENCE TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,801, dated December 26, 1882,

Application filed August 17, 1882. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL LEWIS, a citicounty, near Grothersville, in the county of Jackson and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Wire- Fence Tighteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and tigu res ofreference marked thereomwhich-fortn a part of this specification.

My invention has forits object to provide an improvedandnoveldeviceforstretchingbarbed or other wire fences; and it consists essentially ofan upright movable frame provided with a series of transverse rollers journaled therein, and provided upon their outer ends withratchet-wheels, which, acting in connection with pawls pivoted to the frame, serve to .hold the wire tightly stretched when wound around the said rollers, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically designated in the claim. V

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a frontelevation of a wire fence with my improved device in position for stretching the wires. Fig. 2 is a detail iew ofthe stretching device, and Fig. 3 a detail view of my im proved gage.

Similar letters of reference occurring on the several figures indicate like parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame of my improved stretching de\'ice,whieli consists of two uprights, a a, arranged side by side at a shortdistance apart from each other, and connected by the upper and lower crosspieces, I) b. A series of metallic rollers, B, are arranged one above the other and joarnaled in the side walls of the said frame A, as fully shown in Fig. 2. The one ends of these rollers B are provided with suitable retaining washers and nuts, 0, while the opposite ends are made square to receive the shank of the crank (I, and

are provided with ratchet-wheels d, which engage with the pawls or detents e, pivoted to the frame A, as fully shown in the drawings.

D represents my improved gage forlocating the wires at the points where they are to be fastened to each fence-post, and at suitable distances apart, said gage consisting of an upright board,with slotsf. arranged atregularintervals to one side, which terminate or open into central holes, g, as fully shown in Fig. 3.

In the operation of laying and stretching the wire fence, any desired number of posts E are setin the ground at suitable distances apart and in line with each other, the first and last posts of which are firmly braced in-any suitable manner to withstand the strain consequent upon the stretching of the wires. The gageD is now set up against each post in its turn.and the position of each wire is marked with a piece of chalk where it is to be attached-to the post. Any number of wires may be used and located at such distances apart as may be deemed most preferableaccordingtothecircumstances. The wires are now run along the entire line of the posts, commencing with the top wire and extending down to the lower part of the same. The end ofeach wireis then tirmlysecured tothe first'or starting post, and the wires,as they are run along the line of the fence, are attached to each post, whereindicated by the chalk-marks, by the usual staples, in such a manner that they can be readilydrawn or stretched. All of the wires being now in position upon the posts, the stretching deviceA is set up verticallyagainst the last post in such a manner that one of the rollers B stands in line with each fence-wire, the ends of which are secured to the said roll er by being passed through a hole, h, in the same, a cleat or strip, Gr, being first placed across the top and bottom of the post to maintain the device in its proper position during the operation of stretching the wires. The ends of all the wires being now secured to the said rollers,the cran k G is applied to the square ends of the same and turned until all the wires are thoroughly and evenly drawn up or stretched, and the pawls or detents e, engaging with the ratchet-wheels (I, hold the wires in that position, while the staples are driven in tightly all along the line of posts to firmly secure the wires thereto. The stretching device may then be removed. The gage D is now slipped over the wires intermediately between each post,and the stay-board H setup against the wires, with its edge resting againstthe side of the gage,as shown in Fig. 1,until the wires IOC are securely stapled to the stay-board to prevent them from being sprung or sagged out of place between the posts.

Among the many advantagesof myimproved device, it may be observed that all of the wires can be uniformly and evenly stretched at one time, thereby obviating the annoyance and loss of time in first stretching one line of wire and then having to loosen and tighten the same again when the next succeeding line or lines have been run and stretched, it being a' well-known fact that during the operation of laying a wire fence the posts will yield more or less during the tedious operation of first laying and stretching one line and then another, the first line laid having invariably to be loosened and tightened again at! er the other lines are run and stretched.

herein-described device for stretching wire fences,consistiugof the movableframeA, composed of the uprights (o a, havingcross-pieces Z) I), and provided with the metallic rollers B,

having ratchetwheels (I, for engagement with the pawls e, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL LEWIS.

Witnesses: I

EKILLIS W. RUDE,

:tALPH LEWIS. 

